October 2021

Fortress Power eFlex 5.4 has passed the most stringent fire safety test-large scale fire test – UL 9540(A)

We’re very excited to announce that Fortress Power is now one of a very few Lithium battery manufacturers that passed the UL 9540(A) large-scale fire test. The UL 9540A large fire test is the new test method for evaluating thermal runaway fire propagation in a battery energy storage system (BESS). This test was developed to address safety concerns identified by the building codes and the fire service in the United States.

The current ICC International Fire Code (2018 IFC) allows an individual BESS unit not exceeding 50 kWh and having a maximum quantity of systems totaling 600 kWh of energy per indoor fire area (battery room). The 2018 IFC and the draft NFPA 855 standard for the installation of energy storage systems currently limit the individual BESS unit size for  batteries tested to UL 9540 standards to 250 kWh.

A critical component of the UL 9540A test method is that the abuse of systems continues until system failure.  Typically, heating single or multiple cells at 5C/minute results in thermal runaway. By abusing the smallest repeat unit of the system, the test is understanding the extent to which that failure propagates. While in operation, a battery management system (BMS) would likely detect temperature or voltage anomalies.  UL 9540A test methods assume these systems are non-functional and that cells in the battery pack have reached thermal runaway.  In doing so, it judges the systems’ capability at responding to thermal runaway.  In fact, the battery pack level test is designed around figuring out how to repeatedly force the battery to fail.

If one or multiple Fortress Power battery cells run into thermal runaway, it won’t cause the whole battery pack to catch fire. Fortress Power eFlex 5.4 unit only generates smoke after 4 hours of heating with the cell temperate reaching over 250F (120C). The battery pack stabilizes and the temperate drops back to 95F (35C) in 5 hrs.

During the whole 14hrs of testing, there was no visible flame/fire observed.   This is all thanks to Fortress Power’s high-quality extruded aluminum battery body design and the tier 1 prismatic lithium iron phosphate module design.   The battery pack design not only gives the product a sleek look but also makes the battery much safer.  Many other battery manufacturers have failed the test due to cobalt-based lithium-ion battery cells and/or poor battery pack architecture design.

Eric Wang, the CTO of Fortress Power comments: “Safety and reliability are our No 1. Priorities in the residential energy storage system. We select best-in-class Lithium iron phosphate battery cells and power electronic components in all our battery systems.  Our digital processor based battery management system (BMS) has an optimized control algorithm to protect the battery cell and prolong its lifespan. In addition, our patented enclosure design achieves 4 times better thermal performance than our competitors.

Our eFlex 5.4 has been tested by nationally recognized testing labs to the full range of UL tests (UL 1973, UL 9540, and UL 9540(A)), which enable a faster and easier permitting process with the local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ). Our dealers can now install eFlex 5.4 units worry-free, while the end-users can enjoy their lifestyle knowing they are safe during power outages.

 

Click Here For Testing Video!

Technically, hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico runs from June through November. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the first named storm of the past seven years has formed in May, with Tropical Storm Ana being the most recent in 2021.

It’s not a stretch to say hurricane season has been unofficially extended to cover half the year.

Hurricane season of 2020 was so active that the NOAA ran out of names in September and had to start using the Greek alphabet! In addition to the high number of hurricanes, the number of major hurricanes (categories 3-5) has increased from an average of 1.6 per year in the 1980s to 3.1-3.8 per year in the 2000s and 2010s.

If you’re a solar energy installer or distributor serving areas that are susceptible to the damaging winds and flooding of hurricanes, Fortress Power battery backup units should be a standard offering for both existing systems and new installations.

When homeowners lose power, a solar energy system will stop functioning unless a backup system is activated. The battery backup kicks in automatically. In fact, it only takes a millisecond for the inverter to start using the battery to power critical loads. The homeowner doesn’t have to lift a finger.

Of course, the system can be configured to store and hold the maximum amount of energy for a long period of time, sell energy to the grid, or power loads in the home.

Many homeowners think they can get by with a generator. However, generators are loud and need gas, which might not be accessible during a hurricane. The only fuel used by a battery backup unit is the energy stored during the day, which doesn’t cost anything, and it doesn’t make noise while in use.

Fortress Power Battery Backup Solutions

For larger homes, the Fortress Power eVault Max 18.5kWh lithium battery is the largest-capacity lithium battery on the market. It’s scalable up to 20 units, delivering 370kWh for both residential and commercial applications. The eVault also uses safe, environmentally friendly prismatic lithium iron phosphate cells and comes with a 10-year warranty

For smaller homes, the Fortress Power eFlex 5.4kWh is a rugged, long-lasting battery that uses safe lithium iron phosphate technology. The smaller size of eFlex creates more mounting flexibility, while its modular design allows you to add more capacity to power more loads.

The eVault and eFlex are compatible with most 48V hybrid inverters and are capable of closed-loop communication. This enables the battery to intelligently communicate with the inverter to maximize efficiency and extend the life of the battery.

Keep the Power On During Hurricane Season

Let us show you how solar battery backup solutions can give your customers peace of mind when severe weather hits. For pricing and information, contact Fortress Power today!